Detergent powders



United States Patent ()fiiice 3,054,153 Patented Sept. '18, 1 962 3,054,753 DETERGENT POWDERS Norman Albert Hurt, Lyrnm, and Stanley Alan Mitchell,

Warrington, England, assignors to Lever Brothers Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine N o Drawing. Filed Jan. 18, 1956, Ser. No. 559,792 Claims priority, application Great Britain Jan. 18, 1955 6 Claims. (Cl. 252-99) This invention relates to detergent powders, more particularly to alkaline detergent powders having a bactericidal action.

Alkaline detergent powders are commonly used on the industrial scale, particularly for purposes such as machine dish-washing. These powders often contain a major proportion of an alkaline inorganic detergent salt such as silicate or phosphate as the chief detergent constituent. Frequently, it is convenient to incorporate one or more organic soapless detergents in such a powder.

It is desirable that such powders should combine high detergent power with good bactericidal activity. If inorganic hypochlorite compounds, such as chlorinated trisodium phosphate, are incorporated in powders containing both an alkaline inorganic detergent and an organic soapless detergent the bactericide tends to lose its activity during storage. It has now been found, however, that if certain aromatic sulphonamides or their derivatives are incorporated in such a powder the powder possesses good bactericidal activity and the tendency to lose activity during storage is reduced.

The present invention provides, therefore, a detergent powder which comprises a major proportion of an alkaline inorganic detergent salt, a minor proportion of an organic soapless detergent, a minor proportion of an inorganic hypochlorite compound and a minor proportion of a compound of the general formula or an alkali metal salt thereof, where R is OH, O-alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms, NH NH-alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms, Cl, Br or an alkyl group of 1-18 carbon atoms, Ar is a benzene ring, X is hydrogen, chlorine, or an alkyl group of 1-5 carbon atoms, and Y is hydrogen or chlorine, and the group may be ortho or para to the group R.

The preferred alkaline inorganic detergent salts for use in the powders of the invention, are the alkali metal silicates, more especially sodium rnetasilicate. Alkali metal phosphates can also be used. The phosphates may be condensed phosphates or orthophosphates or mixtures of these. Suitable condensed phosphates are the tripolyphosphates such as pentasodium tripolyphosphate, Na P O the pyrophosphates such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate, Na P and the hexametaphosphates, such as sodium hexametaphosphate, (NaPO Other alkaline inorganic salts which may be used include the alkali metal carbonates, particularly sodium carbonate, and the alkali metal borates.

Organic soapless detergents which may be incorporated in the powders of the invention include anionic detergents such as salts of alkyl sulphuric acids and of organic sulphonic acids having detergent properties. Examples are sodium lauryl sulphate and the dodecyl benzene sulphonates. It is preferred to use nonionic soapless detergents such as the condensation products of alkyl phenols with condensation product of p-tert-octyl cresol with ethylene oxide containing about 8-10 moles of ethylene oxide is particularly suitable. Other nonionic soapless detergents which may be incorporated include the higher polyethylene glycols and polyoxyethylene esters such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate.

The inorganic hypochlorite compounds of the invention must be sufliciently stable not to decompose in the alkaline powders in the presence of the organic bactericidal chlorocompound but, on the other hand, must liberate chlorine in aqueous solution at a suitable rate when used for dishwashing purposes. The preferred compounds are the solid alkali metal hypochlorite compounds. The term solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound is taken to include those compounds which contain combined hypochlorite but in which the hypochlorite may not be present in stoichiometric proportions, such as chlorinated trisodium phosphate. Chlorinated trisodium posphate is the preferred hypochlorite compound. By chlorinated trisodium phosphate is meant the composition consisting of trisodium phosphate and sodium hypochlorite intimately associated in a crystalline form, which may be prepared as described in United States specification No. 1,555,474. Generally, the available chlorine content of chlorinated trisodium phosphate is between 1 and 5% but compositions containing higher amounts of available chlorine (6% or more) are particularly effective. Lithium hypochlorite may also be employed.

The sulphonamide compounds for use according to the invention will generally be present in the form of the alkali metal salt. Preferred compounds are those in which R represents a methyl group, an ethyl group or an NH group.

As examples of suitable compounds there may be mentioned:

S OzNHz Chloramine-T (toluene-p-sulphonsodiochloroamide) S O 2N C12 Toluene-o-sulphonsodiochloroamide S O 2N C 1} Na Dichlorarnine-T Other adjuncts commonly present in detergent powders may also be incorporated. There may be mentioned the alkali metal sulphates and chlorides.

A proportion of water may be present in the powders of the invention usually due to its presence as water of hydration in the salts used. The amount of water present should not be so great as to cause any deleterious eifects in the composition. When lithium hypochlorite is used, the amount of water should, in any case, not exceed 6% by weight of the composition and it is preferred to use anhydrous compositions when lithium hypochlorite is present.

It is preferred to use from 60 to 95 of alkaline inorganic detergent by weight of the powder, whilst from 0.5 to 15% of organic soapless detergent by weight of the powder may be used, 1 to being preferred. The proportion of hypochlorite compound will vary with the individual compound used, generally 01-15% Will be used. For chlorinated trisodium phosphate 0.5 to 15 may be used, 1 to 5% being preferred. For lithium hypochlorite (at a level of 45% available chlorine) 0.25% to by weight of the powder may be used, 1% to 5% being preferred. The ratio of solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound to sulphonamide compound may be as high as 8:1 but a ratio of from 4:1 is preferred. Generally, not less than 0.5:1 will be used.

The ratio of sulphonarnide compound to organic soapless detergent should not be less than 0.05 :1 while the preferred range is from 0.2:1 to 1:1. Generally, not more than 5% by weight of the composition is required.

The detergent powders according to the invention may be made by any conventional method although any processing should avoid conditions under which a significant proportion of the ingredients might decompose. It is preferred that the inorganic hypochlorite compound should be the last ingredient to be added.

The following examples illustrate the invention:

Example 1 A detergent powder was made up to the following formulation:

Percent Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate 54.00 Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 18.75 Sodium carbonate (soda ash) 18.25

Condensation product of p-tert-octyl cresol with ethylene oxide (containing approx. 8 molecules ethylene oxide per molecule of octyl cresol) 1.25 Chloramine-T 1.00 Chlorinated trisodium phosphate (4.5% available chlorine content) 3.00 Water 3.75

The powder possessed good storage properties. 1% aqueous solutions of the powder possessed good bactericidal properties.

Example 2 A detergent powder was made up to the following formulation:

Percent Sodium metasilicate anhydrous 31.10 Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 18.75 Sodium carbonate (soda ash) 18.25 Sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate 4.00 Chloramine-T 1.00 Lithium hypochlorite (at 45% av. chlorine) 1.00

Sodium sulphate (anhydrous) 25.90

inorganic detergent salt selected from the group consisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates, carbonates, and borates; from about 0.5% to about 15% of a synthetic organic nonsoap detergent selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic synthetic organic nonsoap detergents; from about 0.1% to about 15% of a solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound; and an amount up to about 5% of a compound selected from the orthoand para-substituted benzene sulfonarnides of the general formula Where R is an ortho-para directing radical selected from the group consisting of OH, O-alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, NH NH- alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, Cl, Br, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, Cl, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, and Cl.

2. A detergent composition in powder form having good bactericidal and storage properties consisting of from about 60% to about of at least one alkaline inorganic detergent salt selected from the group consisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates, carbonates, and borates, from about 1% to about 5% of a synthetic organic nonsoap detergent selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic synthetic organic nonsoap detergents; from about 0.1% to about 15% of a solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound; and an amount up to about 5% of a compound selected from the orthoand para-substituted benzene sulfonamides of the general formula where R is an ortho-para directing radical selected from the group consisting of OH, O-alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, NH NH- alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, Cl, Br, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, Cl, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group con sisting of H, Na, K, and Cl.

3. A detergent composition in powder form having good bactericidal and storage properties consisting of from about 60% to about 95% of at least one alkaline inorganic detergent salt selected from the group con sisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates, carbonates, and borates; from about 1% to about 5% of a synthetic organic nonsoap detergent selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic synthetic organic nonsoap detergent; from about 0.1% to about 15 of a solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound; and an amount up to about 5% of a compound selected from the orthoand para-substituted benzene sulfonarnides of the general formula where R is an ortho-para directing radical selected from the group consisting of OH, O-alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, NH NH- alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, Cl, Br, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, Cl, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of H,

Na, K, and C1; the ratio of the hypochlorite compound to the sulfonarnide being in the range from 0.521 to 8:1

and the ratio of the sulfonamide to the synthetic organic nonsoap detergent being in the range from 0.211 to 1:1.

4. A detergent composition in powder form having good bactericidal and storage properties consisting of from about 60% to about 95% of at least one alkaline inorganic detergent salt selected from the group consisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates, carbonates, and borates; from about 0.5% to about 15% of a synthetic organic nonionic nonsoap detergent; from about 0.1% to about 15% of a solid alkali metal hypochlorite compound; and an amount up to about of a compound selected from the orthoand para-substituted benzene sulfonamides of the general formula where R is an ortho-para directing radical selected from the group consisting of OH, O-alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, NH NH- alkyl in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, Cl, Br, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, Cl, and an alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of H, Na, K, and Cl.

5. A detergent composition in powder form having good bactericidal and storage properties consisting of from about 60% to about 95% of at least one alkaline inorganic detergent salt selected from the group consisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates,

6 carbonates, and borates; from about 0.5 to about 15% of the condensation product of para-tertiary-octylcresol with ethylene oxide containing approximately 8 molecules of ethylene oxide per molecule of octylcresol; from about 0.1% to about 15 of chlorinated trisodium phosphate; and an amount up to about 5% of chloramine T.

6. A detergent composition in powder form having good bactericidal and storage properties consisting of from about to about of at least one alkaline inorganic detergent sa'lt selected from the group consisting of the sodium and potassium silicates, phosphates, carbonates, and borates; from about 1% to about 5% of the condensation product of para-tertiary-octylcresol with ethylene oxide containing approximately 8 molecules of ethylene oxide per molecule of octylcresol; from about 0.25% to about 10% of lithium hypochlorite; and an amount up to about 5% of chloramine T.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,555,474 Mathias Sept. 25, 1925 1,650,124 Gunzler Nov. 22, 1927 1,716,014 Taylor June 4, 1929 1,894,539 Mirau Jan. 17, 1933 2,356,550 Volz Aug. 22, 1944 2,438,781 Kamlet Mar. 30, 1948 2,534,781 MacMahon Dec. 19, 1950 2,689,225 Anderson et al Sept. 14, 1954 2,763,618 Hendrix Sept. 18, 1956 2,765,239 Siegrist Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 775,247 France Oct. 8, 1934 469,3 34 Great Britain July 23, 1937 

1. A DETERGENT COMPOSITION IN POQDER FORM HAVING GOOD BACTERICIAL AND STORAGE PROPERTIES CONSISTING OF FROM ABOUT 60% TO ABOUT 95% OF AT LEAST ONE ALKALINE INORGANIC DETERGENT SALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SILICATES, PHOSPHATES, CARBONATES, AND BORATES; FROM ABOUT 0.5% TO ABOUT 15% OF A SYNTHETIC ORGANIC NONSOAP DETERGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ANIONIC AND NONIONIC SYNETETIC ORGANIC NONSOAP DETERGENTS; FROM ABOUT 0.1% TO ABOUT 15% OF A SOLID ALKALI METAL HYPOCHLORITE COMPOUND; AND AN AMOUNT UP TO ABOUT 5% OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE ORTHO-AND PARA-SUNSTITUTED BENZENZ SULFONAMIDES OF THE GENERAL FORMUAL 